Lavandula plant named &#39;anouk deluxe 173&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lavandula  plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 173’, characterized by its upright to slightly outward plant habit; freely branching growth habit; strong durable plants; freely flowering habit; dark violet-colored flowers with purple violet-colored terminal flower bracts positioned on strong and erect peduncles; long flowering period and strong re-flowering habit; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lavandula stoechas.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ANOUK DELUXE 173’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Lavandula plant, botanically known as Lavandula stoechas, commonly referred to as Lavender and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Anouk Deluxe 173’.

The new Lavandula plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Nuis, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new unique Lavandula plants with good performance and attractive plant form and flower coloration.

The new Lavandula plant originated from an open-pollination in May, 2011 of Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,685, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Lavandula stoechas, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lavandula plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Nuis, The Netherlands in May, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lavandula plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since August, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Lavandula plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lavandula have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of the new Lavandula plant. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Anouk Deluxe 173’ as a new and distinct Lavandula plant:

-   -   1. Upright to slightly outward plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit.     -   3. Strong durable plants.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Dark violet-colored flowers with purple violet-colored         terminal flower bracts positioned on strong and erect peduncles.     -   6. Long flowering period and strong re-flowering habit.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Anouk’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Anouk’ differ in terminal         flower bract color as plants of ‘Anouk’ have light         purple-colored terminal flower bracts.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have a stronger re-flowering         habit than plants of ‘Anouk’.

Plants of the new Lavandula can be compared to plants of the Lavandula stoechas ‘Sanne’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,632. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of ‘Sanne’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula are more upright than plants of         ‘Sanne’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Sanne’ differ in terminal         flower bract color as plants of ‘Sanne’ have purple-colored         terminal flower bracts.

Plants of the new Lavandula can also be compared to plants of the Lavandula stoechas ‘Toscane’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,046. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Lavandula differ primarily from plants of ‘Toscane’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lavandula and ‘Toscane’ differ in terminal         flower bract color as plants of ‘Toscane’ have light         purple-colored terminal flower bracts.     -   2. Plants of the new Lavandula have a stronger re-flowering         habit than plants of ‘Toscane’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Lavandula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Lavandula plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Anouk Deluxe 173’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Anouk Deluxe 173’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and following detailed description were grown in 12-cm containers during the spring and early summer in an outdoor nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Lavandula production. Plants were ten months old when the photographs and description were taken. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 20° C. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk Deluxe 173’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,685.

Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Lavandula stoechas, not patented.

-   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About ten days at             temperatures about 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 60 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 70 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; initially white in color             and becoming more brown with development; actual color of             the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water             quality, fertilizer type and formulation.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright to             slightly outward plant habit; freely branching habit;             moderately vigorous growth habit; flowers arranged in             verticillasters on crowded spikes with showy terminal flower             bracts.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 28.2             cm.         -   Plant width.—About 29.8 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Quantity per plant: About 58             primary lateral branches developing per plant with numerous             secondary branches. Length: About 10.4 cm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.6 mm. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Upright to slightly outward. Texture and luster:             Moderately tomentose; matte. Color: Close to 145A to 145B;             pubescence, close to 157D.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile.             Length: About 3.3 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Narrowly             oblanceolate to lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire; revolute. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Densely tomentose; matte. Fragrance:             Strongly aromatic, pungent. Venation pattern: Pinnate.             Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to between 137B and             189A; venation, close to 144B; pubescence, close to 192D.             Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A;             venation, close to 148B; pubescence, close to 192D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Small single salverform             flowers arranged in compact verticillasters on crowded             terminal spikes; freely flowering, about 120 flowers             developing per inflorescence and more than 7,000 flowers             developing per plant; flowers with two-lobed upper lip and             three-lobed lower lip; flowers face mostly outward to             slightly upright on the spike; inflorescences with showy             terminal flower bracts.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; continuous             from late spring into late summer in The Netherlands; strong             reflowering habit.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Individual flowers last about             ten days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Narrowly oblong. Texture and luster: Moderately             tomentose; matte. Color: Close to 145C; towards the apex,             close to N187A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height: About 5.3 cm. Diameter, at             terminal flower bracts: About 2.1 cm. Diameter, below flower             bracts: About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Depth (height): About             8.5 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Upper lip, two-lobed and             lower lip, three-lobed. Length, upper lip: About 8.5 mm.             Length, lower lip: About 7 mm. Width, upper lip: About             2.5 mm. Width, lower lip: About 4 mm. Shape: Roughly             spatulate; lower 70% fused into a tube. Apex: Obtuse,             rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper (inner)             and lower (outer) surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety;             matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper (inner)             surface: Upper lip, slightly darker than 86A; lower lip,             close to 86B, towards the base, close to NN155D; color does             not fade with development. When opening and fully opened,             lower (outer) surface: Close to 86A to 86B; towards the             base, close to NN155D; color does not fade with development.         -   Terminal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About four             positioned upright at inflorescence apex. Length: About             2.4 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Narrowly obovate. Apex:             Obtuse. Base: Narrowly cuneate. Margin: Entire; undulate.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately             tomentose (minute hairs); matte. Color, upper surface: Close             to N81B; venation, close to N81B; pubescence, close to             N187D. Color, lower surface: Close to N81B; venation, close             to N187A; pubescence, close to N187D.         -   Basal flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: Each group of             five flowers is subtended by a single basal flower bract.             Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Broadly             rhomboidal. Apex: Aristate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately             tomentose; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 147D;             towards the margins, close to N77B; pubescence, close to             NN155C. Color, lower surface: Close to 148C; venation, close             to N187A; pubescence, close to NN155C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five, fused into a             campanulate tube. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 0.75 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper (inner) and lower (outer) surfaces: Densely             pubescent; matte. Color: When opening, upper (inner)             surface: Close to 147C tinged with close to 195A;             pubescence, close to NN155C. When opening, lower (outer)             surface: Close to 145C; towards the apex, close to N187A;             pubescence, close to NN155C. Fully opened, upper (inner)             surface: Close to 147C tinged with close to 195A;             pubescence, close to NN155C. Fully opened, lower (outer)             surface: Close to 145C; towards the apex, tinged with close             to N187B; pubescence, close to NN155C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Aspect:             Mostly upright. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster:             Densely tomentose; matte. Color: Close to 143A and 145C;             towards the apex, close to 141A and N77C to N77D;             pubescence, close to 157D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.             Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 86D.             Anther shape: Reniform. Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther             color: Close to 148D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 13B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 3.5 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma             color: Close to N92A. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color:             Close to 85D. Ovary color: Close to 143C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Lavandula. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lavandula have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lavandula     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lavandula have exhibited good     tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate high     temperatures about 40° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 7. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lavandula plant named ‘Anouk Deluxe 173’ as illustrated and described. 